The morning air was colder than usual, filled with a heaviness that mirrored the tension in the hearts of the pack. Aria stood at the training grounds, her eyes fixed on the council members who had arrived in their ceremonial black robes. Their presence signaled that today would not pass like any other.
Kael stood beside her, his face calm but stern. The council had summoned him for questioning not only about Aria's sudden appearance to Ronan's territory, but also about the quiet power shift occurring in the shadows. They'd grown suspicious. Power didn't slip from one Alpha to another without noise. Unless it had been orchestrated.
Ronan had made his move by confessing his betrayal to Aria, pretending remorse. But now Aria knew the truth,he wasn't regretful. He was calculating. And worse, he'd planted doubts in the council's mind about Kael's intentions.
